A new project entitled 'Younger Lives and Blood Pressure' has been launched to address high blood pressure amongst Black African and Caribbean communities, the Race Equality Foundation, in collaboration with Smart Health Solutions, has announced.

Research suggests that people from Black African and Caribbean backgrounds are more likely to develop high blood pressure, but what is less known is how the condition is understood and managed within these communities.

Using a shared decision making tool, the project will develop and pilot nurse-led motivational change model for managing high blood pressure. Primary focus will initially be on communities in south London and will be delivered through GP practises in the south East London Integrated Care System. It will run until 31 August 2023.

This will involve:

• Blood pressure testing within the community
• The development of a Heart Age Tool specifically focused on Black African and Caribbean communities
• Training healthcare professionals to deliver the programme
• An evaluation of the programme.

“We know that improved health messaging and better engagement can improve awareness of high blood pressure and how it can be managed,” said Jabeer Butt OBE, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation.

“We saw this in action through our previous project where we worked in community settings, such as barbershops, to carry out blood pressure testing and raise awareness of high blood pressure amongst Black African and Caribbean men.

“This project will build on that work, as well as the work of our project partners, to help those people at highest risk to take control of their health.”

Find out more on the Race Equality Foundation website.